Elapsed-time indicator.



J. F. MAYS.

ELAPSED TIME mmcAToR.

APPUCATION FILED MAY '2| i915. 1,160,1 10, Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

` uumn|||||||||||||||||m|||| UNTTED sTATns PATENT eration .rAMs MAYs, or* isiiaivrrNGHAM, ALABAMA, Assreivon or ONEHALF T'o JAMES o.' PETERSON, or JAMEsToWN, New YORK.l

ELArsaD-TIME INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.'

Patented Nov.' 9, 1915.

Application inea May 12, 1915.` serial No. M3594;

ToAAaZZ whom t may concern." Y

Be it known that I, JAMES F. MAYs, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Birmingham, Jefferson county, Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elapsed-Time Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device adapted to be used in connection with a time piece,

such as a watch or clock, to indicate the elapsed time.

The object of the invention is to produce a device of simple and compact construction which, when used with an ordinary time piece, will indicate at a glance the elapsed time without requiring any arithmetical work or calculation, the elapsed time being indicated and read directly from the dials.

In carrying out the invention I provide movable dials or indicators which are set or operated in connection with the hands or pointers of the time piece, all of which will be explained more fully hereinafter in connection with the description of the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which like parts in the several views have been given the same reference numerals.

Figure l is a front elevation of a watch showing the arrangement of the several dials. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of Fig. l.

The outer casing of the watch is indicated at l, in which is contained the usual watch movement by means of which the hour hand 2 and minute hand 3 are operated. The watch is provided with a dial t, which is numbered around its periphery in the usual manner to indicate the hours. The dial -t may be attached to a supporting member 5, upon which is also mounted an operating member 6 in the form of a flat ring provided with a knurled outer edge for rotating the same, This outer edge may project slightly outside the case 1 so that it is readily grasped by the hand for turning the same. The operating member 6 is seated upon the support 5 andthe face plate or dial 4 of the watch projects over the inner ,edge of the same, holding it in position while permit ting a free rotary movement thereof. The operating member 6 carries a flat ringshaped indicator 7, which is attached to the upper side thereof with its upper surface flush with the surface of the dial t. The outer edge of the indicator 7 is undercut to receive a projecting flange on the inner edge of a second indicator S, thus holding the latter in place. This second indicator 8 rests upon the operating member 6 and is independently rotated thereupon by means of the retaining ring 9, into which the same is threaded or otherwise suitably secured thereto. The ring 9 may also hold the watch crystal l0. It will thus be seen that when the parts are assembled the indicators 7 and 8 may be readily rotated independently of and relatively to each other and the fixed dial 4.

The inner or hour indicator 7 is divided into l2 parts or divisions and each division again divided into three subdivisions, the divisions being consecutively numbered from zero to l2 and the intermediate subdivisions being correspondingly numbered, as shown in Fig. l. rFhe starting line, shown at 11, indicates the starting point of the first division, the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter.

rlhe outer or minute indicator S is divided into 60 divisions, which may be marked consecutively from l to 60 or in any other manner which may be desired. As shown in Fig. l, the divisions are separated into sets of ve and numbered with multiples of five while the intermediate divisions are indidicated by a series of one, two, three and four dots, respectively. The starting line l2 indicates the beginning of the first division, the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter.

The operation of the device in connection with a time piece, as shown, to ascertain the elapsed time from a given starting tine is as follows: The hour indicator 7 is rotated (by means of the knurled edge of the operating member 6) until the starting line l1 is under the outer end of the hour pointer 2 and the minute indicator 8 is likewise rotated (by means of the ring 9) until its starting line l2 is under the outer end of the minute pointer 3. The elapsed time from this starting time may now be ascertained and read directly from the figures directly below the hour and minute pointers. For illustration, the indicators 7 and S as shown in Fig. l were started at 7 :30. lt will be observed tion designed Without departing from theY CII that the starting line ll occupies the position oi2 the hour hand and the starting line l2 that of the minute hand at 7,:30. The time indicated by the pointers in their present position is 8 :i7 and the elapsed time is read directly from the indicators, the number of hours being that shown by the figure under or just passed by the hour pointer, which in this case is l and the minutes are read in lilre manner from the minute indicator from the division under or just passed 'by the minute pointer, which in this case is 17, indicated by the second division beyond l5. rlhis indicates that the elapsed time is one` hour and seventeen minutes. lt Will thus be seen that the elapsed time is very readily ascertained and read directly, Without any computation, from the indicator.

rl `lie.in.fention is adapted to many uses and it Will be understood that the relative proportions and size of the several parts of the device, as Well as the construction .and arrangement, maybe changed to meet the individual requirements and uses to which the saine is put. in the drawings, the parts have been somewhat exaggerated in order to more clearly illustrate the construction, arrangement and marlring.

As many changes couldbe made in the above construction and many apparently ividely different embodiments of my invenscope of the appended claims, 'I intend that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative merely of an operative embodiment or' my invention and not in a limiting sense.

What l claim is:

l. The combination with a time piece, of amovable hour indicator adapted to be operated in connection with the hour pointer,v

v into divisions corresponding to the number of hours upon the dial of the time piece and said minute indicator being divided into divisions corresponding to the number of minutes in each of said hour divisions, each of said indicators having a starting point indicated thereon, adapted to be brought to any position of the pointer with which said indicator is used, and rotatable ring shaped operating members to which saidV indicators are respectively attached and by means of which the saine are relatively-rotated, said operating members and indicators being rotatable in a plane parallel With each other and with' the dial of the time piece.

2.' The combination With a time piece, of a Y rotatable ring shaped hour indicator adapted to be operated in connection with the hour pointer, and a rotatable ring shaped minute indicator adapted to be operated in indicator being divided into divisions correspending to the number of minutes in each of saidhour divisions, each of said indicators having a starting point indicated thereon adaptedto be brought to any position of the pointer with which said indicator is used, and rotatable ring shaped operating members to which said indicators are respectively attached and by means of Which the same are relativelyy rotated, said operating members and indicators being rotatable in a plane parallel With each other and with the dia-l of the' time piece.

3. rlhe combination With a time piece having a stationaryv dial, of a supporting member upon which said dial is mounted, said dial projecting over a portion thereof, 'a movable indicator mounted on said lsupporting member and held in position by said dial, a second movable indicator mounted upon and held in position by said first indicator, and means for moving said indicators independently of and relatively to Y each other and said dial.

"le The combination With a time piece having a stationary'dial, of a supporting member upon which said dial is mounted, said dial projecting over a portion thereof, a rotary indicator mounted on said supporting member and held in position by the projecting portion of said dial, a second rotary indicator mounted upon and held in position by said first indicatonand means for rotating saidV indicators independently of and relatively to each other and said dial.

5. The combination with a time piece having a stationary dial, of a supporting member upon Which said dial'is mounted, said dial projecting over a portion thereof, a rotary ring shaped indicator mounted on said supporting member and held in position by the projecting portion of said dial, a second rotary ring shaped indicator mounted upon and held in position by said i'irst indicator, and ring-shaped operating members for rotating said indicators independently or' and relatively to each other and said dial.

' 6, rlhe combination with a time piece having a stationary dial, of a supporting member upon which said dial is mounted, said dial projecting over a portion thereof, a plurality of rotary indicators held one by the other and by the projecting portion of said dial in operative position upon said supporting member, and means for rotating said indicators independently of and rela- Said dial projecting over a portion thereof, an operating member rotatively mounted on Said supporting member and held in position by the projecting portion of said dial, an indicator attached to said operating member, a Second indicator rotatively mounted upon said operating member and held in position by said rst indicator, and means for rotating said indicators independently oi' and relatively to each other and said dial.

Signed at the city, county and State of New York, this 5th day of May, 1915.

JAMES F. MAYS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

